WATCH: CommBank Matildas rescue late 1-1 draw against Asian Champions China in front of sell-out Adelaide crowd
The CommBank Matildas have drawn with Asian Champions China 1-1 after a dramatic late equaliser to Michelle Heyman in the first game of the ‘Til It’s Done Farewell Series in Adelaide.
The match – the first time that the CommBank Matildas have played in Adelaide since 2019 – was played in front of a sell-out crowd of 52,912.
Head Coach Tony Gustavsson named a starting eleven with a mixture of first-team regulars and rotational options. Emily van Egmond was named captain, as Steph Catley started the match from the bench.
A notable inclusion in the team was Adelaide local Charli Grant. She started at right-back ahead of Ellie Carpenter, who had arrived in camp late due to UEFA Women’s Champions League commitments with her club Lyon.
The game started off with some heart-in-mouth moments for Australia, with China’s organised shape making it difficult to play out from the back.
Cortnee Vine provided a constant outlet for the side, connecting particularly well with Kaitlyn Torpey on right-hand side. They created the first opportunity of the match for the home side, but Vine was not able to connect the cross.
China were looking lively as well. After the ball was given away in midfield in the 12th minute, they created promising interplay, landing at the feet of Tottenham Hotspur’s Wang Shuang. She had a clear shot after cutting in from her left but hit it high and wide.
It would be the team in red who would score the first goal. Central Coast Mariners star Wurigumula made a strong run down the right-hand side. Her deflected cross found the feet of Zhang Linyan, whose shot beat Mackenzie Arnold’s outstretched palm and found the back of the net.
Zhang was in behind the defence again in stoppage time before fantastic work by Clare Hunt to get back and deflect it behind for a corner.
Half-time saw no changes for either side, but a renewed attacking impetus for the CommBank Matildas. Emily van Egmond, who started the game as one of the centre-forwards, dropped deeper into midfield – allowing Mary Fowler to take a more advanced role.
It nearly paid off in the 55th minute. There was another superb wall pass between Torpey and Vine – this time Torpey coming away with the ball to cross – that found Fowler free at the back post. The 21-year-old wasn’t able to control the ball and the opportunity passed by.
Gustavsson made a huge five changes at the 62nd minute mark. Caitlin Foord, Kyra Cooney-Cross, Steph Catley, Ellie Carpenter and Hayley Raso were introduced on to the pitch. They replaced Cortnee Vine, Tameka Yallop, Kaitlyn Torpey, Charli Grant and Clare Wheeler.
It was all Australia for the last 30 minutes as they searched for the equaliser. Fowler was central to the action, her shot deflecting out for a corner in the 71st minute, and her strike on the end of a great run and cross from Raso shooting over the crossbar.
Sharn Freier was introduced in the 77th minute after Caitlin Foord required physio attention, and was not able to continue.
She created what was almost the best chance of the half. After beating players on the left flank, she whipped in a ball that fell into the path of Heyman. The veteran centre forward was just not able to get on the end of it, and China cleared away.
It wasn’t until deep in stoppage time when the CommBank Matildas could finally break through. China goalkeeper Xu Huan committed a foul by handling the ball outside the penalty area. Mary Fowler took the free kick, which the goalkeeper could only parry into the path of Michelle Heyman. Heyman tucked it home for her remarkable sixth goal since returning to the squad in February.
It provided an exclamation point on a night that the sell-out crowd in Adelaide will savour.